Krombacher

The brewery remains owned and operated by the Schadeberg family across four and five generations, giving it a continuity of family management stretching back more than two centuries. All production draws on water from the Felsquellwasser, a network of around 50 rock spring wells within a three-kilometre radius of the site, a source the brand identifies as central to its character.

Krombacher entered the AF category in 1999, well ahead of the mainstream surge in alcohol-free beer that followed two decades later. The o.0% range arrived in 2017, positioned specifically for fitness-focused drinkers seeking a post-exercise option. The o.0% Pils is brewed through a full process before the alcohol is removed via vacuum distillation: a method conducted at reduced atmospheric pressure, which lowers the boiling point and allows the alcohol to be driven off at temperatures gentle enough to preserve the beer's aromatics. The wheat beer takes a different route: fermentation is arrested early, before significant alcohol develops, retaining the fruity esters that characterise the wheat beer style. The use of two distinct methods reflects a deliberate approach to matching each technique to its beer type rather than applying a single process across the range.

Krombacher self-reports market leadership in the AF beer segment in Germany alongside its position in the wider German premium beer market. International distribution covers more than 50 countries. The alcohol-free range is available through specialist alcohol-free retailers.